Incident Overview

Date: Monday 15 January 1990
Aircraft Type: CASA C-212 Aviocar 200
Owner/operator: Servicios A‚reos Nacionales – SANSA
Registration Number: TI-SAB
Location: 16 km SSE of San Jos‚-Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) – ÿ Costa Rica
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 23 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: CASA C-212 AviocarCASA C-212 Aviocar
Investigating Agency: DGAC Costa RicaDGAC Costa Rica
Category: Accident
A CASA C-212 Aviocar crashed during a domestic flight from San Jos‚-Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Palmar Sur Airport (PMZ) due to a failure to comply with flight plan and navigate safely in mountainous conditions. The aircraft entered a wooded mountainside at an elevation of 2200 meters, resulting in the deaths of all three crew members and twenty passengers.A CASA C-212 Aviocar crashed during a domestic flight from San Jos‚-Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Palmar Sur Airport (PMZ) due to a failure to comply with flight plan and navigate safely in mountainous conditions. The aircraft entered a wooded mountainside at an elevation of 2200 meters, resulting in the deaths of all three crew members and twenty passengers.

Description

A CASA C-212 Aviocar was destroyed when it flew into the side of a mountain at an elevation of 2200 m while on a domestic Costa Rican flight from San Jos‚-Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Palmar Sur Airport (PMZ). All three crew members and twenty passengers were killed in the accident. SANSA Flight 32 received clearance for a runway 07 departure at 08:23. The controller reported winds from 100 degrees at 30 knots and cleared the flight to climb to 5500 feet after takeoff. The CASA took off at 08:25 and climbed towards a mountainous area, shrouded by clouds. Immediately after takeoff the crew received clearance to climb to 8500 feet. The airplane continued to climb but flew into the side of a wooded mountainside at an elevation of 2200 m (7200 feet). PROBABLE CAUSE: “The Investigating Commission determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure to comply with the flight plan initially proposed to Air Traffic Control and to continue flying on a course that would lead the aircraft to enter IMC conditions, while flying under VFR flight rules; without having foreseen the minimum safety standards for the conditions prevailing in the place where the flight was conducted. This action could have been influenced by fatigue and lack of motivation. Contributing to the accident was the deficient operations management and the lack of a flight safety program on the part of the operator”.

Primary Cause

Failure to comply with flight plan, including continuing on a course that would lead to IMC conditions, while operating under VFR flight rules, potentially influenced by fatigue and lack of motivation. Deficient operations management and a lack of a flight safety program.Failure to comply with flight plan, including continuing on a course that would lead to IMC conditions, while operating under VFR flight rules, potentially influenced by fatigue and lack of motivation. Deficient operations management and a lack of a flight safety program.

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